Good Measure

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I have heard this scripture referenced so many times right before the church offering. I remember ushers passing baskets down the row or beckoning us to walk around to give our offering in the baskets that the deacons were holding. My grandfather was a deacon at the church I grew up in, so devotion and offering were two times I knew he would be front and center. I also knew that it was not a time for me to have conversations or to play in church because I would be in his line of sight. My grandmother always made sure that I had some change or a dollar to put in church. 

I was taught that even if you didn't have anything to give, you still touch the basket. My mother instilled in me the principles of tithing. I can admit that I didn't truly grasp what I was doing until I was much older. I knew that God should get at least ten percent. Interesting enough, I learned about the 80-10-10 financial plan. Live off 80% of your income, save 10%, and give 10%. Of course, you can live off a smaller percentage and invest and save more. The percentages are personal, but the plan works. I choose to give 10% to God, some may choose to give 10% to a charity. Some may choose to give more or save more. We can not discount the fact that most of us have been given a good measure. We just don't always maximize what we've been given. We don't save. We don't invest, and most of us live above our means. It's a new year. We can change old habits. We can do something new. We can make better financial decisions. We can choose to be financially healthy. We can take our good measure, and be good stewards.